Automatic press stop



Feb. 2l, 1928.

Iw. HAN EY AUTOMATIC PRESS STOP Filed Oct. 4. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Naim/m SNN..GENT55...?.25 55@ Feb. 21 1928.

1,659,818 w. HANEY AUTOMATIC PRES S STOP Filed Oct. 4,1926

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Feb. 2l, i928.

resaca .UNITED STATES vPAT-ENT OFFICE.

WALTER` HANEY, or roRNiiY, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC PRESS sTor.

Application led October 4, 1926. Serial No. 139,432.

Vable bales, the lint is placed in the press through the top of-the cylinder with a con- Y .denser from the gin stands and then pressed within the baler cylinder. The neXtfstep isf'usually to press the bale to about four times its original density, and this by moving upwardly of the lower head block. In the process of baling lint it frequently happens that said lower head block becomes canted within the cylinder causing an irregular bale or the ends of the head block to be pushed o ut and broken.

The primary object of the invention is to automatically cutoff the power, be it steam, electric, or otherwise, should said head block become canted at the end of its movement within the cylinder; and to make all bales of lint cotton of a uniform size. f Y' Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same comprising the novel form', combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawings wherein like reference `characters indicate corresponding parts in Figures l and 2, and in Figures 3 and 4, respectively, the diagrammaticview, Figure 5 being common to both forms ofthe invention:

Figure l is a view in vertical Section of a cotton press equipped withan automatic stop mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention. L

Figure 2 is an elevation of an electric switch mechanism operable in the event the head block becomes canted within the. cylinder, this form of the invention being employed when the pressis operated velectrically.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure'2 of a belt shifting mechanism operable only in the event the head block becomes canted within the cylinder at the end of its compression stroke for cutting off the power to the operating mechanism, this form of thev invention being provided when the pressing units are'controlled by belt driven power. Figure ,41- is a view similar to Figure 2,

but disclosing the second form of the in-` vention, and f Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the structural elementsof the invention common to both forms of the device disclosed in the drawing.'

First having reference to Figures l and 2, 5 designates a cotton press cylinder within which are operable plungers 6 and 7, frequently termed head blocks, the upper one of which is movable out of the upper open end of the cylinder so as to permit the cotton to be fed therein.-v In the usual operation of such a baler, the cotton is first disposedinto thecylinder when the lower head block 7 is at'the bottom of the cylinder as indicated yin full lines in Figure l. The cotton is then pressed initially by the plunger 6. The bale is then pressed to about four times the original density by forcing upwardly upon the lower plunger or head block 7 to the position as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l. As heretofore mentioned, said lower plunger orvhead block frequently Vbecomes canted at the end of its compression stroke within the cylinder, as indicated by the dotted lines inFigure l causing an irregular bale, and frequently damage to the head block and cylinder.

In order to overcome this undesirable feature, I attach to the bottom side ofthe head block 7 at opposite sides of the plunger rod 7 certain ends of rope or cable lengths 8 8. 'Iliese'cable lengths are trained over pulleys 9 9 disposed within the lower end of the cylinder and are then Vdirected outwardly in spaced parallel relation through an openingy 10 in the bottom ofthe cylinder. As clearly lillustrated in the diagrammatic view in Figure 5the rope or cable lengths 8 8 are' then directed beneath other laterally spaced pulleys l1 1l and thence directed upwardly y and in turn trained over other laterally spaced pulleys l2`12 in vertical alignment with the pulleys Il ll. The cable lengths are then directed horizontally in spaced parallel relation, and are ytrained over still further pulleys l3 13 in spaced horizontal relation with the pulleys l2 12. The pulleys 1l, l2, and 13 are preferably arranged uponk a supporting panel or suitable supporting wall within the gin house directly adjacent the press as indicated in Figure l, said panel or supporting wall being designated by the yreference character A. The cable lengths are thence directed to an opening 14 in the panel or supporting wall A, the same being trained over pulleys 15-15, preferably disposed upon a common shaft that traverses the opening, as more clearly brought out in Figure 2. Beneath this opening 14 there is provided a pair of longitudinally spaced pulleys 16, over which the rope or cable lengths are trained, the same thence passing laterally in close relationship and attached to the end of the elongated arm 17 of a bell crank 18 that is pivoted at 19 to the adacent side of the panel or supporting wall A.

Counterweights 20-20 are hung upon the rope or cable lengths 8 8 intermediate the spaced pulleys 12 and 13. Thelength of the cables or ropes is such that the plunger or head block 7 may be raised and lowered within the cylinder 5 tov the limit of movement in opposite directions as indicated by the full and dotted lines in said Figure 1,

the slack being taken up when the plunger or head block is at any intermediate position other than its full uppermost position by the counterweights 20-20 with the end in view that the bell crank 18 will not be swung upon its pivot 19 during such a movement of the plunger or head block when its upper limit of movement is in true horizontal position within the cylinder. As a result,the plunger in the normal reciprocating movementv between the full and dotted line positions shown in Figure 1k will not affect or operate the levers 17 or 33 of Figures 2 and 3 respectively for stopping the press, so long as the plunger at the end of its upper limit of'movement is not canted. 1t is immaterial whether the head 7 of the plunger' cants during the intermediate portion of the stroke as the controlling action is not ydesired atthis point but only at the time it completes its stroke of movement in advance of the operation of the tying mechanism for tying up the compressed bale.

In the operation of presses for baling cotton, it frequently happens that the cotton is not evenly distributed in the compressionl chamber and as a result the plunger will become canted, due to the unequal compression in opposite sides of the chamber. If the operator of the press observes this condition `before the plunger reaches the upper 'end of its stroke of movement, he can usually push suflicient of the cotton over from one side to the other to properly distribute it in order to provide a uniform bale in the complete compressed relation. However, if the operator happens to leave the machine for a short interval of time, it is possible-that this redistribution of cotton cannot be obtained and as a result, an irregular-shaped and large ended bale will be compressed, by the time the plunger reaches the end of its stroke at which point it `will be in a canted Y position. If, in this condition the large ended bale is tied out by the operator which he can frequently do in the further operation of the mechanism in completing the bale, it frequently happens that the canting of the plunger may cause a wr' y pass the doors of the press and cause the same to break the crimp oif'the hydraulic plunger or to injure other adjacent parts of f result, this invention operates 'only' at the` time of forming a big ended bale tok prevent tying out of the bale and stopping the operation of the press. In obtainingthe con.- trolof the press, this mechanism acts Vonly at the upper' limitof the stroke of mov-ement V*of the plunger 7, so that should this plunger be canted at this upper limit of movement, and the end of the plunger will be moved beyond its normal 'limit of move- Ament such as indicated by the portion ofthe plunger 7 at the left hand side of Figure 1 in the dotted line position at angular'- relation to the stem, which move-mentis takenl advantage of in producing anl abnormal movement of the cable 8, which operates the switch controlling lever or the belt controlling mechanism. In this way, the entire baling press is stopped, so that the operator cannot tie out the bale by continuing the operation of the machine to produce an operation of the tying mechanism. Asa result, large ended bales cannot be tied out and must .be removed from the press and ythe operation again started to obtain the'prop'er distribution of the cotton in the formation of the bale, so that the plunger 7 will not cant when it reaches its upper limit of movement. l/Vhile the illustration shown in the drawing provides cables 8 connectedA to the plunger 7 at a pair of points in diametrical opposite positions with respect to the mounting for the plunger, it isobvious that should ythe plunger cant in a plane at right angles to the plane of these connections, that control for this canting` movement could be obtained by using additionalcables connected'to the plunger in such right angular plane to those shown for obtaining a control of the switch lever or belt shifting mechanism. i

Where the mechanism operating the plunger or head block 7 is electrically conn and the electric motor, respectively., This v panel or supporting wall A. j This rod V24 isk switch furtherincludes a Ybridge contact23 upon one end of ra-horizontally arranged rod 24 freely slidable through the base plate 21 and guided within bearings 25 upon. the

equipped l.with a lateral pin'2'6 that projects through a vertical slot 27 in the shorter vertical arm of the bell crank 18. Obviously, when the bell crank is swung tothe dotted line posit-ion in Figure 2, the bridge contact carrying red 24 will be forced in a direction toward the right for moving said bridge contact outpof engagement with the spaced contacts 22-22 resulting in the breaking of the circuit between the source of supply and said electric motor.

After the. plunger or head block 7 has been properly centered within the press cylinder, the bell crank 17 will be thrown reversely to its initial position by reason of a retractile coil spring 27 anchored at its opposite end to the end of the longer arm of the bell crank and the panel or supporting wall A, respectively. Y

In the form of lthe invention disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, the invention is of such a construction as to cause the shifting of a power belt from a fixed to anidler pulley of :L the plunger or head block operating mechanism. In this form of the invention, the said belt is designated by the reference character 28, and in the full line position shown in Figure 4, said belt is upon the fixed pulley so that the press mechanism will be operated. On the other hand, the dotted line position of the belt is the idler position at which time said press operating mechanism is not functioning.

In carrying out my invention there is provided a belt shifting yoke 29, the end arms of which are disposed over the opposite edges of the belt, this yoke being operatively associated with a bar 30 mounted for longitudinal slidable movement within a guide bracket 81 upon the panel or supporting wall A, and being formed at its outer surface and adjacent its end opposite from that to which the yoke 29 is attached with a vertical slot 32. In this form of the invention there is pivotally attached to the panel or supporting wall A a bell crank 33 at ri ht angles to the yoke carrying bar 30, the sort vertical arm 34 of which will engage within the slot 32 of said bar 30 to prevent its move ment in either direction. The yoke 29 is normally pulled'to the idling position of the belt by reason of a retractile coil spring 35, anchored at its opposite ends to the yoke 29 and the panel or supporting wall A. Obviously, when there is an unusual pull upon either one of the cables, designated in this form of the invention by reference characters 8-8, the bell crank lever 33 will be caused to move upwardly in the direction of the arrow in. Figure 3 for releasing the same from the bar 30. The coil spring 35 will thenrcause *the yoke 29 to move into the dotted `line position in Figure 4 for'obviously sliding the belt upon the idler pulley of the operating mechanism whereby' further actuation of the plunger or head block operating mechanism will b e prevented. y j

It will thus be seen that I have provided means for automatically stopping the power mechanism of a baling press, and even though I have herein shown and described but two modifications of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that other forms may be provided without departinfT from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. j

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is Y l. The combination with a baling press having a cylinder, a power operated plungerk operable in said cylinder through a predeterkmined stroke of movement for compressing material to form a bale, `said plunger being subject to canting within the cylinder during the compression stroke resulting in the formation of large ended bales, of means connected with the plunger and operable at the end of its compression stroke only when said plunger is canted, adapted upon operation to stop the operation of the press and preventI the completion of large ended bales.

2. The combination with a baling press having a cylinder, a poweroperated plunger operable in said cylinder through a predetermined stroke of movement for compressing material to form a bale, said plunger being subject to canting within the cylinder during the compression strokeresulting in the formation of large ended bales, `of means for controlling operation of the baling press, and means connected to the plunger for operating the last named means only when said plunger is canted at the end of the compression stroke. j

3. The combination with a baling' press having a cylinder, a power operated plunger operable in said cylinder' through a predetermined stroke of movement for compressing material to form a. bale, said plunger being subject to canting within the cylinder during the compression stroke resulting in the formation of large ended bales, of pivoted means normally retained in one position operable to stop the press, and motion transmitting means connecting the plunger with saidpivoted means operable at the end of the compression stroke to move said lever for stopping the er is canted at the end of said stroke.

4. The combination with a baling press having a cylinder, a power operated plunger operable in saidcylinder through a predetermined stroke of movement for compressing material lto form a bale, said plunger bepress only when said plunging subjei o cantng W-thnl the cylinder nected Wtlthe2 plmger 'andvsadfpivot'd dwing the' commes/sion stirroke; reswlting' in lmea-ns in a, predeelfm-ned manuel" operable 10 the formation of Purge* ended barl'es, @dif v'ethejend o-ijhe`compress'roi-1*srokey for cprscwt-ng means di-rectlycontmllng' the operating' sadfpvoevl Jnneans-y anc1reCipr0ewt-. 5. @palmi-ion G' the pmessi, pfvot'ed means norjing means clostfop'A #he press only when szn' mallyf retainng'the last named. means-1in poplunger `'Is-'Cantecl Y 1 Y s'on to permit Operation' of the press* and In testimonywlereof affix my signature. p1unger,and moto'n transmitting meansconv V"W'J'.SLLTER 

